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Through eight games last season, Syracuse tennis was 7-1 after knocking off conference foe Clemson at home. Yet, the Orange finished the campaign 10-11, ending with a loss to Notre Dame in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Heading into his 11th season as SU’s head coach, Younes Limam is accustomed to strong starts. But in three of the previous four seasons, Syracuse finished with a losing record and couldn’t carry its hot start into ACC play. This year, the conference boasts seven teams in the top 25 of the 2025 ITA National Women’s Tennis Rankings. Limam believes his squad is poised for a strong 2025 campaign.

“I think the biggest thing for us is to keep growing as a team, to keep improving and to play our best come postseason,” Limam said.

Here is everything you need to know about SU’s 2025 season ahead of its opener versus Cornell Wednesday:

Flourishing in the fall

If the fall season indicates success, SU’s morale should be high entering the spring season.

Syracuse dominated all five fall events it played. At the Penn Invitational, Syracuse totaled 24 victories in singles and doubles across three days of action. All six SU players won at least one match in singles and doubles, while eight different doubles combinations captured at least one victory.

The Orange continued their dominance at the Big Red Invite and the University at Buffalo Indoor Invite. At the Big Red Invite, SU finished 12-0 in singles matches. Then, the Orange finished the UB Indoor Invite with seven singles and four doubles wins.

Serafima Shastova’s singles stretch was the highlight of the fall season, earning her a spot in the NCAA Individual Championships. Shastova shined at the ITA New England Regionals, defeating Boston College’s Olivia Benton in three sets in the final match. The single victory was Shastova’s sixth in five days.

“I needed a couple hours to realize I won,” Shastova said. “I think it was on the car ride back when I realized.”

Shastova was defeated in the round of 64 by Tennessee’s Elza Tomase, snapping a 10-match winning streak.

“I hope (our team) can carry that momentum from the fall, keep building on their confidence and be ready to compete next Wednesday,” Limam said.

Roster turnover

With Viktoriya Kanapatskaya, Polina Kozyreva, Ines Fonte and Emilie Elde no longer with the program, SU’s roster faces significant turnover.

A year ago, the four players combined for 99 match victories. Kozyreva’s 33 were second on the team, trailing only Miyuka Kimoto’s 39.

While Syracuse finished 4-9 in conference play, its highlight came at home when Elde secured a winner-take-all final match against No. 8 NC State on March 15.

One area where Syracuse struggled mightily throughout the fall was in doubles play, which was something Limam harped on throughout the season. The match against the Wolfpack was SU’s first doubles point in five games. Limam hopes his team can find success with senior Shiori Ito and sophomore Nelly Knezkova — a duo Limam has experimented with in the fall season.

“We felt like it was something that we could try during the fall and fortunate enough they had great success,” Limam said. “They built some momentum and we look forward to carrying that to the spring.”

SU brings back four players for its spring season. Ito and Kimoto — who captured SU’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 2018 — are the only two seniors on the roster. Meanwhile, juniors Constance Levivier and Anastasia Sysoeva, and sophomore transfers Shastova and Knezkova will all need to play a large role. Limam also added freshmen Haram Kim and Monika Wojcik to his squad for the spring season.

A South Korea native, Kim brings a 22-14 junior doubles record to Syracuse while also having a 2022 ITF junior doubles title under her belt. Wojcik, the No. 52 prospect in the United States, joins Syracuse with both singles and doubles experience. Most notably, she won an ITF junior doubles title in 2020.

Ito wants to make the most of her final collegiate season.

“I’m motivated to make it memorable,” Ito said. ”Tennis has been such a significant part of my life, and I want to finish on a high note.”

Schedule breakdown

The Orange will have an opportunity to build confidence early into the season as they open with four straight home games against nonconference opponents: Cornell, James Madison, Fordham and Drexel.

Syracuse’s first road test will be in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, on Feb. 8 and 9, where the Orange face Boston University and Boston College on back-to-back days. SU’s game against BC marks the start of ACC play. Columbia rounds out SU’s nonconference schedule on Feb. 16.

Limam believes the nonconference schedule is an opportunity to “try to build some momentum and do the little things.”

In ACC play, Syracuse faces seven of the top 25 teams in the 2025 ITA National Women’s Rankings. The Orange open with four straight home games before a West Coast road trip in early March, where they face Stanford and California. The Cardinals are ranked third, while the Golden Bears are 13th. SU ends the season with a road matchup against Notre Dame.

Published on January 21, 2025 at 9:36 pm